Log onto Azure's RemoteApp service

To build your first RemoteApp server, log onto the Azure Portal and choose the RemoteApp service.

Images Simon Bisson/ZDNet

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Choose a remote desktop server image

Choose an image from the Azure Gallery, give it a name and assign it to a region, and then sit back and wait for Azure to provision your server.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Set up users and apps

You'll see a list of all your deployed servers, and any VPNs and templates they use. Click on a server to set up users and apps.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Quick Start view

A Quick Start view makes it easy to complete the configuration of a new server. Once set up, you can hide this view if required.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Azure AD or Microsoft account required

Users need a Microsoft organisational account (in Azure Active Directory) or a Microsoft Account. This lets you deliver apps not just to managed users, but also to contractors and temporary staff. You can also deliver apps to an Azure AD group.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Choose apps and invite users

Finally, choose the apps that are going to be published to each user. You can let them use all the available apps on a server, or a selection. They're then sent an invitation to the RemoteApp service.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Download client software

Once they've logged on to the RemoteApp portal, users will be given the option of downloading the appropriate client software for their device — Windows, Mac, Android and iOS are all supported at launch, with Windows Phone 8.1 following soon.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Respond to invitations

Log into the service from the client, and you're presented with a list of invitations. Click one to register and download the list of available apps.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Load and run apps

Once you've registered a client, you'll be presented with a list of apps. Just click the icon to load and run the app. It'll run on the Azure virtual machine, delivering its UI to your PC or mobile device.

Published: May 12, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT (07:02 PDT)

Caption by: Simon Bisson

Visio via Azure

A RemoteApp looks just like — and behaves like — any other app. Here we're running Visio from Azure on a Windows 8.1 PC.